GEMS/Sparkle! May 28–June 3 Various venues in the Oltrarno, Florence
Florence goes glittery! Preziosa: Florence Jewellery Week promises a series of jewel-toned celebrations to mark the 30th anniversary of Le Arti Orafe Jewellery School. Anchored in artisan spaces of the Oltrarno, Preziosa brings together major names in modern jewelry design, including Philip Sajet, Martina Dempf, and Barbara Schmidt. The lineup includes talks in English, workshops, visits to botteghe, exhibitions and more. For more information, visit Le Arti Orafe’s website or call 055/2280131.
LISTEN/Sacred & Profane May 28–June 4 Various venues in Florence
Salon/Sanctuary Concerts of New York City has partnered with several prestigious Florentine institutions for a week of magnificent music in the cradle of the Renaissance: the Sacro/Profano Festival. Setting it apart from standard music festivals, each concert is deeply connected to the venue where it will be performed or to a specific artist. A key event on the lineup is the May 29 tribute concert to Artemisia Gentileschi, the first woman admitted to Florence’s Accademia delle Belle Arti e del Disegno. For a detailed list of all concerts, see the Agenda section of TF Weekly or the Salon/Sanctuary website.
LEARN/Black Portraitures May 28–31, conference; May 29–August 29, exhibition Villa La Pietra, Villa Bardini & various venues in Florence
New York University is putting on an array of exciting events all summer long, The Season, spanning live readings, lectures, concerts, theatrical performances and exhibitions. But this week’s conference Black Portraiture[s] II: Imaging the Black Body and Re-staging Histories and its related exhibition ReSignifications are both sure-fire highlights. Both explore the portrayal of the black body in Western culture and art. The program features talks, presentations and screenings on Italy’s changing demographic, feminism, performance art, issues of identity and more. See the conference website for further information and check out the TF Weekly agenda for more specifics on The Season.
DRAW/Field trip! June 2 Meet at 11am in piazza San Marco, Florence
Enjoy a day of doodling and well-deserved dawdling at Villa Demidoff! On Festa della Repubblica, a national holiday, the Firenze Drawing Club is organizing a family-friendly outing to the Medici villa (weather permitting). Bring your own snacks, picnic blankets and drawing supplies, and let the natural surroundings provide the inspiration. Don’t be intimidated by the group name: this informal event is open to everyone, even if you can barely hold a crayon. For more information on Firenze Drawing Club, check out the Facebook group.
DRINK/A Chianti classic May 30–June 7 Various venues in Montespertoli
The black rooster is crowing as the Mostra del Chianti returns. Wine lovers will flock to the 58th edition of Montespertoli’s major showcase, but the program goes beyond wining and dining: expect parades, street performances, concerts and kid-friendly fun. Download the full program at mostradelchianti.it.
